A.  As far as wireless is concerned, including wireless hardware, the industry is split into two types of wireless communications:

Wireless communication from phone or phone-type devices , through telecom carriers.

Wireless communications for computer networks, both LAN's and WAN's , private corporate hardware.

For wireless through Telco carriers, there are three types of technologies in use - TDMA, CDMA, and GSM. They are not compatible. There are a couple of data mode technologies in use also. These are Mobitex radio and CDPD, which have limited coverage to certain major metropolitan areas only. The big Telco companies like Cantel, Bell Mobility, Rogers ATT, BellSouth, etc., implement all the hardware, software and billing systems, and customers purchase phones or devices like RIM email pagers that operate on their wireless platforms. Basically, customers sign up for service plans that work in the desired area with a device that the particular carrier is offering. You can't just pick a device and say I want to use so and so as a carrier.

The other wireless communication industry is for computer networks. This is still very new and just starting to come into the mainstream. These systems replace the traditional hub and RJ45 LAN cables running to computers and servers that link all the machines to form a network. The goal is create wireless networks in corporations and/or homes to do away with the wires. The computers connected to these systems talk only to the computers on their own networks, not through telephone carriers, unless you provide a modem and a telephone jack, etc. to access the outside world. Since the system is based on a wireless TCP/IP protocol referred to as 802.11b, the NIC (Network Interface Card ) in every PC and Server must be replaced with a wireless NIC. These NIC's talk to a piece of hardware called a wireless bridge. This piece provides the pathway from the wireless LAN to a standard Ethernet based LAN, with network cables.

Large companies such as 3COM, Lucent, Nortel, IBM, etc. have this year started offering these systems. Generally you have to buy the NIC’s and bridge (comes with monitoring and management software) from the same vendor. The software is not yet cross-compatible.

Q.  What are the associated costs?

A. Obviously for the first type of wireless service, the cost is the cell phone, PDA, etc. plus the monthly airtime usage charges. For wireless LAN's, the cost is about $600 per NIC, and $1700 for the bridge, which comes with the software. That's it. So, for an office with ten people, the cost would be approximately $7700.00 Cdn.

Q.  Is there technical support after wireless has been implemented?

A. Sure there is support. All the large vendors that offer these solutions give free support for a limited time (usually until the warranty expires). After that there may be a per incident or annual service fee for support.

Q.  How long does it take for a business to implement a wireless LAN?

A. For a business to become wireless, the business must buy the components and then arrange for a systems integrator to set up the system. These people usually charge $60 - $100 per hour, and will probably take 3 to 4 hours, provided there are no unexpected problems.

Q.  To what extent is wireless being implemented?

A. Wireless LAN's are just starting to be implemented this year. I'd say the current adoption rate is negligible compared to the installed base of corporate networks. Network administrators want to test a technology for a while first. Also, the price of the NIC cards will have to drop to the $200 level, in my opinion, before there is widespread deployment. In addition to providing the benefit of going wireless, it must be hassle free, and it must be affordable. Imagine what the cost would be for a company of 110,000 PC users to install wireless at $600 a pop.

Q.  What are some of the complaints?